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Penguins-Predators In-Game Blog

by
Jason Seidling
/ Pittsburgh Penguins

1:11: HE SHOOTS AND SCORES!!!!!! Sidney Crosby pulls up on the far side and feeds Letang at the top of the near circle. Letang blows a shot through traffic and past Rinne to finish off a 4-3 Penguins victory. Penguins 4, Predators 3.

2:22: What a game-saving play by Pascal Dupuis!! Dumont's shot from the near cicle went off the shoulder of Fleury and was heading over the goal line when Dupuis came out of nowhere to knock the puck away.3:13: At the end of a long shift, Crosby picked the pocket of a Predator and nearly sneaking a backhander between Rinne's legs.5:00: The Predators find a way to stay undefeated in regulation despite the Penguins' third-period domination.

OVERTIME

0:00: Despite the Penguins taking over the game, we will head to overtime, wehre the Penguins are 1-0 on the season.

3:03: The Penguins use their timeout in an effort to rest their top power-play unit.3:56: The Penguins have a chance on a late power play as Rinne clears the puck into the crowd.

7:04: Are you kidding me?!?!?!?! Malkin just toyed with Francis Bouillon, kicking the puck to his stick and then putting it through Bouillon's legs before getting off a hard backhander. Rinne kicked that shot away, but there was Crosby to score on the rebound for his second goal of the night. Penguins 3, Predators 3.

9:06: Nashville would have had a power play, but Martin Erat decided to interfere with Goligoski, so we will have four-on-four hockey. Goligoski received the Penguins penalty for hooking.

10:22: We are seeing why the Predators have been so good thus far. Rinne once again moved across his crease to deny yet another great look by Malkin from the high slot.

11:21: Great save by Rinne as he moves from his left to right to stop a one-timer off the blade of Letestu. Comrie made the play by send a perfecting pass Letestu's way after picking the puck off at the top of the zone.

14:52: Last season Patric Hornqvist tallied 30 times to lead the Predators. He now has three this season as he takes a Colin Wilson drop pass in the near circle and quickly fires a one-timer over the glove of Fleury. Predators 3, Penguins 2.

15:26: The Penguins had some sneaky shots on that power play but Rinne was there every time as the last line of defense for Nashville.

17:48: The Penguins' power play has been clutch late in games throughout the season, so let's see if they can take advantage of the Nick Spaling penalty.

19:10: As Rupp steps onto the ice, I would be remissed if I didn't mention that the Predators are playing this game without star defenseman Ryan Suter, who was placed on injured reserve earlier today. That's a huge loss for the Predators.

20:00: Can the Penguins become the first team to defeat the Predators in regulation this year? We'll soon find out. The Penguins open the period having to kill off 43 seconds in Rupp's penalty.THIRD PERIOD

SECOND PERIOD NOTES:- Matt Cooke, who paces the NHL in hits, has six through two periods, while Deryk Engelland has four.- Alex Goligoski led the Penguins in ice time with 17:41 minutes.- The Penguins have attempted 37 shots compared to only 25 for Nashville.

0:00: Goals by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have the Penguins and Predators tied at 2-2 after 40 minutes. Shots on goal are now 18-16 in favor of the Penguins.

1:17: Mike Rupp picked up a cross-checking penalty on the ensuing scramble around the net.1:19: Coach Bylsma has to be happy with the way Fleury has bounced back against the Predators. He just made yet another great save, this time by making a blocker save on Smithson's shot from a foot outside the crease.3:38: A couple great chances for the Penguins, including one by Malkin which it looked like Crosby inadvertantly blocked as it was going past Rinne.

5:38: The Penguins are going on the power play as Franson took a roughing penalty.

6:09: Rinne left the smallest of openings as the Penguins broke into the Nashville zone and Sidney Crosby took advantage. Skating the puck down the left wing, Crosby sneaked a shot short side on Rinne from the bottom of the left circle. Penguins 2, Predators 2.

8:14: Wow another huge save by Fleury. This time he throws his glove into the air to rob Steve Sullivan, who was in on a mini-breakaway.9:32: Nashville kills off the penalty. Both teams are at full strength.11:32: The Penguins ended up receiving a power play out of all that as Klein picked up an extra two minutes for roughing. This is their second crack on the man-advantage.11:32: Malkin absolutely destroyed Tootoo against the boards in the Nashville zone, which drew the ire of Kevin Klein. Deryk Engelland stepped in and dropped the gloves with Klein, getting the better of that scrap.11:57: Francis Bouillon's shot was blocked by Craig Adams out high, but the puck went right to Nashville's Cody Franson, who ripped a slap shot from the right point behind Fleury. The shot went through plenty of traffic. Predators 2, Penguins 1.

13:13: Crosby didn't like a hit Tootoo laid on him, so he gave him a couple of cross-checks. He received a penalty as a result.14:28: Fleury stands his ground by stacking his pads together to make a save on J.P. Dumont's breakaway chance.16:18: Unfortunately the Penguins just got nailed for having too many men on the ice. Nashville is 0-for-1 on the power play.

19:06: Just like that the Penguins pounce on a rebound and we are all tied up. Great fake shot by Letang, whose wrist shot eventually went off traffic to the blade of Mike Comrie. The shot by Comrie was stopped by Rinne, but Malkin scored on the rebound. Penguins 1, Predators 1.

20:00: I felt like the Penguins really outplayed the Predators over the last half of the first period, so let's see if that continues into Period 2.

SECOND PERIOD

FIRST PERIOD NOTES:- The Penguins have the advantage on draws, 11-5.- Pittsburgh is outhitting the Predators, 11-8, led by Matt Cooke with four.- Sidney Crosby had a team-high three shots.

0:00: Pittsburgh almost tied the game right at the end of the period but Paul Martin's shot entered the net about a second after the final whistle. As it stands, Nashville leads, 1-0. Shots on goal are 7-6 in favor of the Predators.1:59: Good news as Letang is back on the ice for Pittsburgh.

3:18: The Penguins have gotten great play in the first period out of the fourth line of Tangradi-Adams-Rupp. On each of their shifts they've been able to get the puck in deep and establish a cycle.

7:05: Crosby and Goligoski each set the other up with quality scoring chances on that last power play but Rinne has been a brick wall in goal thus far.8:44: Kris Letang just hobbled off the ice after blocking a shot with his foot. We'll see if he's able to come back out.

9:43:Evgeni Malkin's hustle behind the net forces Legwand to take a hooking penalty.10:17: The Penguins kill off the penalty to Dupuis.

12:54: Great save by the Predators Pekka Rinne as he scoops up a Sidney Crosby one-timer from three feet away. Nice pass on the play by Chris Kunitz.

Pittsburgh's own Sarah Marince sang the national anthem before tonight's game. She currently lives in Nashville and is a fast-rising country music singer.17:02: Legwand sure has a lot of jump tonight. He just had a great chance from the high slot but Fleury made the save with his chest protector.

19:07: Not the start the Penguins wanted for Fleury. A quick pass from Jordin Tootoo to David Legwand at the side of the net gives Nashville an easy goal and the early lead. Predators 1, Penguins 0.

20:00: Pittsburgh puts its perfect 2-0 road record to the test against the Predators.FIRST PERIOD

Marc-Andre Fleury is in goal tonight for the Penguins against the Predators.8:03 PM: The Penguins lone healthy scratch tonight is Eric Godard. Brooks Orpik and Zbynek Michalek are also out. Nashville tough guy Wade Belak is scratched for Nashville.

8:01 PM: Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma is going to go with Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes tonight. This is Fleury's first start since Oct. 13 vs. Toronto.

8:00 PM: The Penguins begin their first road trip of the season tonight in Nashville by taking on the undefeated Predators (3-0-2) at Bridgestone Arena. This contest marks the opening of a three-game road swing for Pittsburgh that continues on Saturday night in St. Louis and conlcudes Oct. 27 at Tampa Bay.

The Penguins enter this game riding a three-game winning streak to place the team over the .500 mark for the first time this season at 4-3. Pittsburgh has won four of its past five games overall. The Penguins are hoping to improve to a perfect 3-0 on the road.